Iran court to review Saberi case on Sunday - lawyer

By Fredrik Dahl

TEHRAN (Reuters) - An Iranian court will hear Iranian-American journalist Roxana Saberi's appeal against her eight-year prison sentence for espionage on Sunday, her lawyer said on Saturday.

The 32-year-old freelance reporter was detained three months ago, and sentenced on April 18 on charges of spying for the United States, Iran's arch enemy.

The media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has said her conviction was a warning to foreign journalists working in Iran ahead of its presidential election in June.

The case could complicate Washington's efforts at reconciliation with the Islamic Republic after three decades of mutual mistrust.

The judiciary said on Tuesday the higher court would meet in a session closed to the public, but did not announce a date.

Saberi's lawyer Abdolsamad Khorramshahi told Reuters the hearing would be on Sunday. "The verdict could come next week or any other time. It is not clear when," he said.

Khorramshahi has expressed optimism that Saberi will be acquitted or have her sentence reduced, after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad publicly called on the judiciary to ensure she was granted her full legal rights.

Saberi's father Reza, 68, said he did not know whether he would be allowed to attend the proceedings.